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Residents press Polk County to include separated multiuse path on Thompson Nursery Road widening
Summary
Speakers at the Jan. 7 Polk County meeting urged commissioners to adopt a design that removes the bicycle lane from the travelway and provides a separated multiuse path along a seven‑mile Thompson Nursery Road widening project to improve safety for children, seniors and people using mobility devices.
Multiple residents and community representatives told Polk County commissioners on Jan. 7, 2025 that the Thompson Nursery Road widening project should include a separated multiuse path rather than a bicycle lane in the roadway.
Ken Henry, representing the Regional Community Council in Winter Haven, told the board the council ‘‘unanimously approved’’ a public design meeting that introduced a design proposal (referred to as design proposal 2) which removed the bike lane from the travel portion of the road and located it in a separate alignment. Henry said the council favors a multiuse path because it accommodates bicycles as well as scooters, wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Alex Vogt, a retired New Hampshire Department of Transportation highway design engineer who identified himself as living in Lake Ashton, said state law supports separated shared‑use paths and that a bicycle lane alongside 45 mph traffic would not be a safe option for children or less experienced cyclists. "To ride a bicycle along Thompson Nursery Road with a 45 mile an hour speed limit and cars going 50 or higher... it's not safe," Vogt said.
Linda Fife, vice president of a Traditions neighborhood association and who said she represents nearly 600 homes and that nearly 6,000 homes are along the corridor, told commissioners public meetings and comment were not meaningful without action. She said the multiuse path option (referred to by speakers as ‘‘option 2’’ or ‘‘option 12’’ in materials) would provide separation and safer connections to planned schools and future developments, and noted the widening covers about seven miles.
Speakers cited new and planned development near the corridor — including the Terrevera development with nearly 5,000 units to the south and planned commercial destinations such as a Publix — as reasons to provide continuous, separated facilities. Staff did not present a final design in the hearing; speakers asked the board and county road staff to meet with community groups to finalize the alignment and to prioritize safety for schoolchildren and less experienced cyclists. Commissioners did not take a vote on a design change at the meeting; staff noted the public input will be part of continued design discussions and later action.
